Sienna’s POV

    I immediately squatted down, looking at Noah, who was still holding my hand tightlyb. /bb“/bNoah, honey, that’s rude,” I said softly but firmly. “We shouldn’t talk like that, okayb?/bb” /b

    Noah pursed his lips, staring at Emily with his still–irritated little eyes, but he remained silent.

    I stroked his head gently, then stared at Liam for a moment. He only gave me a small nod, giving me space to decide what to do next.

    “Mommy’s going to take Noah inside first,” I said, my voice still trying to be steady despite the tumbling in my chest.

    Noah immediately hugged my waist tightly, as if afraid I’d let him go. I sighed, patting his back. “Come on, honey. It’s gettingte.”

    I stepped past Emily, feeling her gaze linger on my back, but I didn’t look back. Not now.

    With every step toward the door, my heart churned. Part of me was angry that he’de at the wrong time, when we were just finding our way. Another part was afraid that Liam would falter, afraid that I’d be the one left behind again.

    But as Noah’s small, warm hand gripped my fingers tighter, I knew one thing, I had to be strong.

    For Noah. For myself.

    I opened the door, invited Noah in, and before I closed it, I caught a glimpse of Liam still standing there, facing his past, while I brought home my young future, who was now hugging me tightly, refusing to let olligo. /li/ol

    I closed the door slowly, as if the slightest creak of the hinges could disrupt an already fragile night. My heart was still pounding, but I forced myself to focus. Noah. That was all that mattered now.

    “Come on, honey,b” /bI said softly, trying to sound normal. “Let’s get changed, brush our teeth, then go to bed,

    okayb?/bb” /b

    Noah nodded, his eyes still a little glistening from the incident in front of the house, but heplied. His hand remained tightly wrapped around mine until we reached his room.

    I took a deep breath as the door closed. It felt safe here. No strangers, no sounds to provoke old wounds, just me and my son, a small world I wanted to protect desperately.

    I helped him remove the neat uniform he had worn for school. His little fingers moved on their own, but sometimes they still needed my help. He nced at me several times, as if wanting to speak, but his lips hesitated.

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    +15 bBONUS /b

    “These sleep pants, Mommy?” he finally asked, holding up a pair of light blue pants with stars on them.

    I smiled slightly. “Yeah, they’re nice. Perfect for a handsome boy.”

    Noah giggled, then changed with a slightly forced enthusiasm. I knew he was tired, but his mind wasn’t still. We then walked to the bathroom. Noah sat on his stool, brushing his teeth with almost automatic movements, while I stood behind him, tying back my hair, which had gotten tangled in the windst night.

    It all felt like a routine, but there was something hanging in the air, the same feeling I’d felt in my chest since Emily showed up at the front door.

    When I was done, I led Noah back to bed. He jumped up, grabbed the nket, and looked at me with those round eyes that always managed to soften my heart. “Mommy, are you reading me a story book again?”

    I smiled, sat on the edge of the bed, and took his favorite book from the small nightstand beside it. The

    cover was a little wrinkled, but the pages were still intact, full of the colors and pictures he loved.

    I opened the first page, and the scent of paper long touched by Noah’s tiny fingers wafted over me. My eyes flicked to his radiant face, waiting for the story to begin. He pulled the nket up over his shoulders, his eyes wide with excitement, as if I were holding a treasure in my hands.

    “Okayb,/bb” /bI murmured softly with a smile, “tonight we meet the little knight again.”

    Noah chuckled, patting the pillow beside him. “And the dragon! Don’t forget the dragon, Mommy.b” /b

    I nodded, then imitated a deep voice. “Of course the kind dragon who loves apples.”

    Noah burst outughing. “Dragons eat meat, not apples!”

    I shook my head, feigning seriousness. “No, this dragon is different. He only likes fresh red apples. And every time he finds one, his eyes sparkle like…” I paused, then pointed at Noah. “…like Noah’s eyes now.”

    His face immediately lit up, a wide smile gracing his tiny lips. He squirmed slightly, then moved closer to me, resting his head on my arm. I continued reading, this time with a full, expressive tone, sometimes deepening his voice for the knight, sometimes sighing heavily for the dragon, and sometimes whispering softly for the little fairy who appeared in the forest.

    Noah stared unblinkingly, asionally repeating memorable words. He was so absorbed, I could feel his heartbeat slowly slowing, his body beginning to rx.

    Each page I turned was not just a story in the book, but also a bridge between me and him. I could feel the bond that had been broken slowly reweaving itself, gently, carefully, but truly.

    As I reached the part where the dragon finally found the golden apple at the top of the hill, Noah’s voice grew softer. “Mommy, if Noah were a knight what would Mommy be?”

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    That simple question made me pause for a moment. I stared at his half–asleep face, his cheeks gently flushed. Then I smiled, stroking his hair. “If Noah were a knight, Mommy would be his shield. Mommy would always protect you.”

    But tonight was different.

    As I was reading, Noah suddenly asked softly, his voice barely a whisper,

    “Mommy will stay here, right?”

    The question stopped me for a moment. I stared at him, my lips parting but no sounding out. He was still staring at the book, not at me, as if the question was too heavy for him to say while staring into his

    own mother’s eyes.

    My heart ached. So innocent, so honest.

    I swallowed, then smiled bitterly, though the smile felt like a crack being forced to remain intact. I nodded slowly, gently stroking his hair. “Yes, honey, Mommy will be here.”

    Noah smiled a little, relieved, then leaned his head back on my arm. His breathing began to even out, his eyes grew heavy, and before I knew it, he was peacefully asleep, the nket covering his tiny body, his face peaceful as if the world no longer had any problems.

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